Dozens of Evangelical leaders in Texas and across the nation have sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons calling for the scheduled execution of Jeff Wood to be stopped. Wood has been on death row 18-years for being the getaway driver in a deadly convenience store robbery even though he did not kill anyone.

The letter says, in part, "Our faith compels us to speak out in this case, where a looming execution date threatens the life of an individual with significant mental impairments who never should have been sentenced to death."

The Evangelical leaders believe Texas officials have a moral obligation to correct this misguided death sentence acknowledging that Wood committed a crime, but not one deserving the death penalty.

"The public is always told that the death penalty is reserved for only the most heinous crimes, but Jeff Wood's case doesn't even come close," said Shari Silberstein, Executive Director of Equal Justice USA, a national criminal justice reform organization that is working with Evangelical leaders across the country. "In spite of Jeff Wood having well-documented mental impairments, this evidence was never presented at trial."

The faith leaders' letter with the list of signatories, which is pasted below, is unequivocal.

"It deeply troubles us when the criminal justice system concludes that some of the most vulnerable in society can be executed and disposed of. All are made in God's image, and as a society we especially must protect those with mental illness and disabilities. Public officials must not shirk this responsibility. We urge them to act now to spare Wood's life."

Equal Justice USA (EJUSA) is a national organization that works to transform the justice system by ending the death penalty, strengthening programs that help crime survivors rebuild their lives, and promoting trauma-informed responses to violence that save lives and heal communities.

And now here is the full letter with the signatories...

August 8, 2016

Governor Greg Abbott

P.O. Box 12428

Austin, TX 78711

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

P.O. Box 13401

Austin, TX 78711-3401

Dear Governor Abbott and Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles,

We are evangelical leaders united in our call for a new sentencing hearing for Jeff Wood and for his scheduled execution to be stopped. Our faith compels us to speak out in this case, where a looming execution date threatens the life of an individual with significant mental impairments who never should have been sentenced to death. Officials have a moral obligation to rectify this mistake and stop this execution while they still can.

On January 2, 1996, a senseless murder occurred during the course of a convenience store robbery in Kerrville, Texas. Daniel Reneau shot and killed Kris Keeran, who was working as the store clerk. While this happened, Wood was in the car that he had come in with Reneau. Nothing suggests that Wood planned with Reneau to murder Keeran. In fact, witnesses attest that Wood told Reneau not to bring his gun before they left for the convenience store.

These details significantly lessen Wood's culpability in the crime. As the getaway driver, Wood committed a crime, but not one deserving the death penalty. The death penalty, we are told, is reserved for the most egregious crimes. Wood's actions-which did not include directly committing a murder or intending to-simply do not fall into this category.

Moreover, Wood had intellectual and emotional disabilities that were well documented before the murder. His impairments impacted his behavior at trial, as he irrationally instructed his attorneys not to present any evidence on his behalf. So the jury never heard any evidence of his background, including his mental impairments. Instead, Dr. James Grigson-a psychiatrist expelled from the American Psychiatric Association for ethical violations-testified to the jury that Wood represented a future danger, despite never evaluating him.

It deeply troubles us when the criminal justice system concludes that some of the most vulnerable in society can be executed and disposed of. All are made in God's image, and as a society we especially must protect those with mental illness and disabilities. Public officials must not shirk this responsibility. We urge them to act now to spare Wood's life.

In Christ,

Texas Pastors

N. Larry Baker, Director of Doctor of Ministry Program and Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Logsdon Seminary at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX

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